Two of my Favorites

There are some works of art that I have always loved from the art books around my house or at the library. But there is a list of my favorites that I have been able to experience in person, that are truly too amazing for a book. 

Here are two paintings that I have seen in real life. These two were already some of my favorite pieces of art and seeing them up-close and in person was an awesome event.

The Daughters of Edward D. Boit, John Singer Sargent. 1879.

This monstrous oil painting is 87.6"x87.6"!!! I saw this painting at the MFA in Boston. After Sargent exhibited a portrait of his mentor Carolus-Duran in the Parisian Salon in 1879 he was commissioned to paint several more portraits. The Daughters of Edward D. Boit was one of these first commissions. 

Floor Scrapers, Gustave Caillebotte. 1875

I love this painting! I'm drawn in by the contrast between the natural lighting from the doorway that reflects off the the wood floor and the workers' skin in an otherwise dark room. I was able to view this painting at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. I loved it. But... this painting was not well received by the public in 1875. Art critics were still looking for paintings of the human form to mimic those of Greek and Roman art. The skinny bodies of these blue collar workers would have been considered off-putting.

Hartsville Veterans' Monument Dedication

Veterans' Day, Nov. 11, 2010, the monument was dedicated. The Ceremony was amazing! It was truly humbling to be a part of such a great event and to have an opportunity to show appreciation to all of the Veterans.

Many people came to the ceremony; both military and civilian.

Each branch of the United States armed service was individually honored. Then the flag was raised. 

           

       

Major General Cornell A. Wilson, Jr. USMC (Ret.) and many other Veterans were photographed in front of the monument. 

                                          

My Granparents, Catherine and Gerald Pate.

Hartsville Veterans' Monument Installation

This is LOOOOONG over due, but I felt that I should still post something about the installation and unveiling of the Veterans Monument. This actually occurred in November. Again, sorry it took so long to post.

The city of Hartsville did an amazing job with the site for the monument. Every aspect of the park was carefully thought out and planned to perfection. The five concrete monoliths were erected first.

They were then dressed in stone that had been cut and imported to the site. The guys at the Inferno took care of installing the bronze. Because each panel weighed about 800lbs, a crane was used to lift the artwork into place. 

The last stage in the site preparation was the walkway and the ground around the five panels.

                  

 The Finished Monument!

Regenesis Dedication

The Regenesis sculpture has finally been completed!!! After over a year of planning, drawing, building, carving, and casting, the piece was delivered and installed earlier this week. The dedication was a huge success.

 

This is the newspaper Article About the Regenesis Dedication.

CITY OF GREENVILLE, LOCAL FIRM PARTNER ON LATEST PUBLIC ART INSTALLMENT

New sculpture celebrates city’s transformation and pays homage to Greenville’s west side

(Greenville SC) The City of Greenville and Nachman Norwood & Parrott hosted a dedication ceremony this morning for the latest installment of public art made possible through the City’s Arts in Public Places initiative. The bronze sculpture, titled Regenesis, was created by local artist Charles Pate, Jr., who was also on-hand for the ceremony. The sculpture is located in front of the Nachman Norwood & Parrott offices at 1116 South Main Street on the corner of South Main and Perry Avenue.
Nachman Norwood & Parrott, a local wealth management firm located in the West End, expressed an interest in partnering with the City’s Arts in Public Places Commission and offered its property as a potential site for an art installation. Subsequently, the Arts in Public Places Commission issued a RFP for a sculpture on the site and in August 2010, commissioned Regenesis after selecting Pate’s proposal from among a variety of submissions by artists from across the southeast.

“Nachman Norwood & Parrott is committed to supporting the arts in Greenville and we are thrilled to be partnering with the City of Greenville and the Arts in Public Places Commission in placing the newest addition to downtown’s art collection on our property,” said Bob Nachman, Managing Director for Nachman Norwood & Parrott. “The reason we chose this location for our offices is because we believe strongly in the revitalization of this vibrant neighborhood and we hope that through this arts initiative, this corner will be one of the many showcases of Greenville’s west side.”

Regenesis depicts the image of a sculptor carving himself out of an aged tree trunk, and according to Pate, the sculpture is a metaphor for Greenville’s transformation. “Unlike a metamorphosis, in which nothing of the former creature remains, this transformation has visible roots,” said Pate. In his original proposal for the sculpture, Pate praised Greenville citizens’ efforts to preserve the historical integrity of the city and referenced the recent resurgence of the arts community on Greenville’s west side. “I believe that Greenville’s art district owes much to the community from which it has emerged,” he said. “With Regenesis, the sculptor’s strong arms and heavy tools represent the physical labor – the honest, hard work that built and sustained the area in bygone days, his emerging torso represents the power and promise of a new generation of Greenville artists and artisans and the incomplete figure, marked by the chisel, represents each artist’s desire to leave his or her own mark on the art world.”

According to William H. Pelham, President of Pelham Architects, LLC and chair of the City’s Arts in Public Places Commission, the unveiling of the sculpture Regenesis by local artist Charles Pate, Jr. is an exciting addition to Greenville’s public art collection. “The vision of the property owner, Nachman Norwood & Parrott, has resulted in a great piece of public art anchoring the South Main Street entrance to downtown Greenville.”